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"There's a world of difference between a Conservative and a Republican. At least, in my book there is."

I agree. I haven't considered myself a Republican for going on a couple of decades. I do, however, consider myself a conservative.

Do I usually vote Republican? Sure -- as the lesser of two evils. I have not wanted to vote FOR anyone, except one candidate, since I wanted to vote FOR Nixon in my first ever election. (I don't recall where my political head was during the Reagan years -- no, it wasn't drugs.)

I usually vote AGAINST the more liberal to the point of socialist candidates that Michigan seems to be overrun with.

Once (and it will probably never happen again), I actually did vote for a local Democratic candidate, on purpose, because I wanted him elected. He was more conservative than the Republican running. As it turned out, he was a Republican who ran as a Democrat because there were no Democrats running for that office. He won. He probably won, and kept winning, because too many people here in the blue Detroit metro area vote D for no other reason than that's what they've always done & that's what their parents always did. Well, we conservatives had a good time of conservative politics in this blue zone.

Really made me wonder if people even cared about the beliefs of this Dem candidate, or just voted D as usual. But, isn't that exactly what we're doing? Vote R. Vote R. Vote R.

So, what's in a name? Republican, Rhino, Republicrat, Democrat. What really is the difference anymore? Sure there's a lot of socialists masquerading as democrats. But there's an awful lot of liberals masquerading as republicans.

Personally, I'm tired of voting for 'the lesser of two evils' when the difference between the evils is getting harder and harder to distinguish.

If ALL we *conservatives* stood behind candidates that held our beliefs, instead of running them off as 'unelectable' 3rd party candidates, maybe we could get a good *conservative* candidate or two to run, then elected, no matter what party name they run under. After all, MOST of the USA was red, not blue in the 2000 presidential election. Is the red zone Republican, or is the red zone conservative that votes Republican as the lesser of two evils?

IMHO, as long as we keep running scared of Democrats getting elected, and vote for any Republican, no matter how conservative or liberal, America doesn't stand a chance.

Think about this. During the 2000 election debacle, who worked tirelessly supporting Bush & protesting of Gore? Republicans? I don't think so. That was the most awesome CONSERVATIVE grass roots effort ever.

How many then Dems, so disgusted with the antics of their party, dumped the party and became bona fide Republicans? Did their political philosophy change when the D became an R? Are these new Republicans *conservatives*?

Honestly, how many of us stood behind Bush, not as our first choice for Prez, but only to defeat Gore? Am I glad Bush is President? Yes, even though he wasn't my first choice. However, his being Republican does not give him the right to run roughshod over the Constitution, even if he does do it more gently than Gore would have.

Bush Republican? Yes. Bush conservative? I'm not sure.

How do we stop giving inches that become miles just so Democrats aren't elected? I'm looking for serious answers. Watching America going to Hell in a hand basket with a Republican president, just more slowly than it would with a Democrat president, is really tearing me up.

Flame away if you feel the need, but don't tell me my 3rd party vote guarantees a Democratic win. I just can't vote for a Republican that sounds just like a Democrat any more.

If you read this, thank you.

So, what do we *conservatives* do to get *conservatives* elected? How do we get to vote FOR someone again, instead of AGAINST someone else?